A Look At Automotive Franchise Opportunities

September 7, 2010 by Alfred Lancer  
Filed under Business and Management

If you’re interested in getting into automotive franchise opportunities, then you’ll want to read this article. Specifically in this article we’ll discuss franchise opportunities as they relate to the automotive industry, how to evaluate which one is right for you, and give you some points to consider. Follow the information in this article, and you’ll make sound business decisions.

There are several different automotive franchise opportunities — auto parts stores, oil changing services, specialized automotive insurance, and even repair businesses such as windshields or brakes. How do you know which one you should invest in?

First, there are several things you need to consider. Is your passion for automobiles higher than your passion for profit? You have to analyze how important money is compared to enjoying running your business. Also, if you’re very passionate about the franchise, that means you can work with a long-term strategy, instead of a short-term profit model. Things to consider — most automotive franchise opportunities involve a busy atmosphere, a lot of interaction with other people, and specialized knowledge.

Second, the range of initial investments for different automotive franchise opportunities is all over the board. Naturally, how much money you are willing to invest has great impact on what kind of franchise opportunities you can get into. For example, if you purchase a franchise as a GPS distributor, you can get into a franchise agreement for under $10,000.

While the franchise fee for being a GPS distributor may seem low, you should look at the overall picture. Will investing in a low cost franchise help you reach your financial goals, or will you be forced to buy more units, possibly even get back into the corporate world? If you cannot afford to buy a franchise that will allow you to enjoy life outside of working at your location, then you should consider waiting until you have the cash liquidity to do so. I’d rather see a franchisee wait an extra 5 years and open a full service automotive repair shop that profits the franchisee over 100k a year rather then him being out of business by buying into a low cost franchise that promised him the dreams.

Finally, if you’re going to get into any franchise in the automotive industry, you must analyze the franchise agreement before accepting it. The best thing to do here is to get a franchise lawyer, to make sure your rights are protected and the agreement is reasonable. In the agreement, you’ll learn what franchising fee you’re required to pay, what products you are allowed to sell, where you can locate your store, sometimes even down to the hours required to be open and operated.

In conclusion, picking the right automotive franchise opportunity comes down to what you want out of the business, where your expertise lies in, and how much money you have to invest and what kind of agreements you can strike. A little research goes a long ways — do the needful to enjoy a good franchise investment.

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Tapping Into Twitter And Facebook.

July 27, 2010 by Jim Tolar  
Filed under Social Marketing

On July 13, 2010 ExactTarget came out with a report detailing trends regarding Facebook and Twitter. The report found “nearly 40% of consumers (are) turning to Facebook and Twitter to supplement the news, information or deals they receive via e-mail marketing, reports RV Business.com.

The report goes on to say:

* More than 90% of consumers that are a fan of, or “like,” at least one brand on Facebook also receive at least one permission-based marketing e-mail per day.

* In excess of 75% of shoppers that ‘follow’ a brand on Twitter also are signed up for a minimum of one brand’s advertising marketing via email.

* About half of people who are interacting with brands on Twitter are doing so without having a Twitter account.

* 45% of mommies with kids residing in the home say they are ‘deal seekers’ and have become fans of ten brands on Facebook, follow ten companies on Twitter and get about fourteen permission-based advertising emails every day.

* 33% of people on-line say they are Info Seekers and are looking towards user-generated content and product reviews in order to make their buying decisions.

* For those under 25, about 28% say they are ’social butterflies,’ which means they friend more brands on Facebook than other users, however they are still more willing to purchase from companies that send permission-based emails.

For companies and advertisers trying to break into this coveted market, this is all good news. RV dealers and RV enthusiasts can find everything they are looking for in the realm of their favorite social media space. This report stresses the need for advertisers and companies to invest their advertising dollars on social media ventures. This is one of the most powerful places to interact with consumers and receive immediate feedback.

The positive spin for advertisers is consumers are seeking out the brands they prefer and are signing up for information. In the era of print and radio, they never had direct communication with interested buyers. Now they do. It’s important to keep content fresh, interesting and relevant content in order to keep consumers coming back for more.

One of the biggest challenges for RV dealers is staying on top of the latest social media trends and ensuring they continue to reach out to their target audience in a way their audience is not just receptive to but enthusiastic about.

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Taking A Look At Data Logger Devices

June 16, 2010 by Adrianna Noton  
Filed under Internet

Not so many years ago, if you wanted to record a set of changing data over a given time period, you would need to use a chart recorder. These are mechanical devices that work either with or without electrical power. Although these are still sometimes the best type of device for the job, they have been largely replaced by data logger devices.

Data loggers are purely electronic devices that can gather data via their own built-in sensors, or via external sensors. Generally speaking, they’re portable, battery-powered, and make use of an on-board microprocessor. Stand-alone logging devices could have built-in keyboards and displays. Alternatively, they could hold data in memory, so that they may be later retrieved via a regular computer. Data may be displayed on a computer either via an Excel spreadsheet or graph, or via the logger’s own proprietary software. Some models have wireless capabilities, which would enable them to send constant streams of data back to the home base.

Take a look on the web, and you’ll find a wide range of data loggers, from the very inexpensive to ones that cost thousands of dollars. You’ll find many different vendors, selling devices for just about any type of data that you can imagine.

Vendors with prominent web-front stores sell a large range of logging devices. You’ll find devices for use by electricians, network technicians, weather researchers, home owners, etc. It seems that there’s something there for almost anyone.

A homeowner might be interested in energy audit and monitoring devices. There are several different types, including one type that can measure the power draw of an electrical appliance. Then, it’ll automatically calculate the annual energy cost for that appliance. Another type of monitoring kit will allow a homeowner to keep an eye on room temperature throughout the house.

Logging devices for industrial or small business use include monitors for HVAC, greenhouses, refrigeration units, or air quality. Air quality monitors can keep a constant check on levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, or other gasses. Use these in closed spaces, where there may be a danger that these gasses may accumulate.

Fleet operators, such as taxi cab or trucking companies, may benefit from the automotive logging devices. These are small devices, which can be connected to a vehicle’s OBD-II port. They can monitor engine performance, fuel economy, and how the vehicle is being driven. Some of these devices have wireless capabilities, allowing operators at a base station to see real-time data as vehicles are being driven. Auto mechanics can also make use of OBD-II devices when trying to diagnose engine problems.

For weather researchers, there are several types of monitoring solutions. Some are monitors for specific weather data, such as wind, temperature, humidity, soil moisture content, or rainfall. There are also complete weather monitoring stations, which can monitor multiple types of weather data.

Operators of mines or grain elevators, where combustible gas or dust may be a problem, would want to use an “intrinsically safe” monitoring device. These devices are guaranteed not to produce sparks that could cause an explosion.

When you shop for a logging solution, be aware of what the purchase price includes. Many times, the required sensors are sold separately from the data logger device itself.

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